Hi Peter, thanks for the link what an awesome museum! And, yes my shako seems to be similar to those. I'm still not sure on the originality of the shako. It is either an excellently made repro, (better than any other I've seen) or an original that was never issued. I think you have a good idea in that the liner could of been replaced. On the shako's you've seen, is it typical that the entire inside is lined in linen? I folded back the leather sweat band to get a look at the drawstring liner and the inside of the shako is also lined and handstitched in a whipstitch to the sides of the cap. Also the drawstring liner is handstiched and the cord appears to be a very fragile silk, which has become frayed. Fortunately I paid @ what a good repro costs, although I've never thought about portraying a Portuguese soldier in the Peninsular campaign : )
Thanks,
Jim